Bundespräsidentenwahl: Erste CDU-Ministerpräsidenten für Aigner

In the debate surrounding the successor to Bundespräsident Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the CDU is now turning its attention to Ilse Aigner. During the first debate, both Mario Voigt of Thuringia and Michael Kretschmer of Saxony endorsed Aigner as the Union's candidate. Kretschmer expressed his hope that Aigner would be the union's candidate on Monday.

Voigt had previously told the "Stern" that Aigner had the qualities of a president Germany needed, having worked closely with her for over two decades. Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz had previously expressed desire for a female president, but had not named a specific candidate. The sister party CSU had brought Aigner into the conversation in April and on their party conference in Munich, they had set her as the candidate.

Both the SPD and Greens have shown sympathy for the 61-year-old CSU politician. The decisive role now falls on the CDU, with the half of the voters in the Federal Assembly who decide on Steinmeier's successor coming from the states. CDU, CSU, and SPD hold about a 50 vote majority. Merz had told CDU district leaders he wanted to propose a "common candidate, a candidate of the political middle" to the party, indicating he wants the Greens on board.

The candidate should have broad support across party lines, said Kretschmer. The office of the president must not be a subject of party politics, but a person who can unite the country. Voigt said Aigner can connect the country, she is "almost there" and has worked hard for it herself. "I believe this is a narrative that can really use in the country."

The CSU has never nominated a president before in its 77-year history, all twelve presidents were men. There had never been a CSU president either. Six presidents came from the CDU, three from the SPD, two from the FDP, and one was non-partisan, Joachim Gauck. The CSU has never put forward a Bundestag president in the past, candidates like Julia Klöckner, Karin Prien, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, Ursula von der Leyen and the independent Ines Claus have been considered.

Klöckner was recently given the best chances against Aigner. Several CDU district leaders had shown sympathy for Aigner in the last days. No high-ranking CDU politician has yet rejected her candidacy. Merz is expected to propose a proposal to the CDU elites on Monday, after which he will also talk to the CSU, SPD and Greens.